Vacuum cleaner with accessory support



R. c. OSBORN 2,779,047

VACUUM CLEANER WITH ACCESSORY SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1957 Filed Aug. 26, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 29, 1957 R. c. OSBORN 2,779,047

VACUUM CLEANER WITH ACCESSORY SUPPORT Filed Aug. 26, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER WITH ACCESSORY SUPPORT Ralph C. Osborn, Bloomington, Ill.

Application August 26, 1953, Serial No. 376,561

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-323) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the canister type and particularly to a vacuum cleaner having a removable accessory ring.

It is well known that the conventional vacuum cleaner has a low pressure or vacuum chamber connection and a high pressure or blower chamber connection and that in the various cleaning chores to be accomplished in the conventional household, both the vacuum and blower functions of the cleaner are used. In order more eflicien-tly to use a cleaner, various accessories are provided which may be connected to the cleaner hose. These accessories are particularly designed for use in cleaning furniture, blinds, bed springs, drapes, and the like. sories are intended to be connected for use to the suction side in which case dirt is drawn through the accessory into the suction chamber. Other accessories are intended to be connected to the blower side of the cleaner for blowing dirt or dust from the place where it may have become accumulated.

Generally these accessories, although valuable adjuncts in the use of a cleaner, are stored away in a closet or some other place away from the location of the cleaner when it is being used. Frequently these various accessories become permanently disassociated from the cleaner and many of them become lost. This relative unavailability of these accessories generally results in their nonuse and greatly detracts from the general overall potential usefulness of the cleaner.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a holding means for use with a vacuum cleaner whereby the accessories are retained in a readily available position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the canister type having an accessory holding ring which is adapted to form a part of the vacuum cleaner when in use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner with an accessory retaining ring which may readily be removed and stored when the accessories are not required in use.

These and other objects and advantages will be come apparent from the following description and drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a canister vacuum cleaner with the accessory ring positioned thereon and with some accessories secured in place on the ring;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the accessory ring having accessories hooked thereon in which the ring has been removed from the cleaner and is hanging in a storage place;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in cross section showing the accessory ring in position on the cleaner and having the brush accessories secured in place on the ring.

The vacuum cleaner shown is of the canister type and comprises a tapered generally cylindrical upper shell having a low pressure annular chamber wall 10, a generally cylindrical lower shell having a high pressure annular "ice chamber wall 12, a low pressure cover locking means 14,

Certain of these accesa pivoted handle 16 and a removable hose connector 18 to which is attached. a vacuum cleaner hose 20. The hose connector 18 is in communication with the low pressure or vacuum chamber and there is also provided a hose coupling 22 in communication with the 'high pressure or blower chamber. The upper or low pressure chamber wall 10 terminates at its lower end in an annular outwardly extending projection or ledge 24 to which is secured a diaphragm26 whichnormally' separates the 'high and low pressure chambers. The diaphragm 26 is adapted to overlap the upper annular periphery of the high pressure chamber wall 12.

For retaining vacuum cleaner accessories I provide a ring 28 of rubber, plastic, or the like, having a flange 30 of a diameter substantially equal to, but slightly greater than, the outside diameter of the chamber wall 10 at the point immediately above the projection 24. Integrally connected with the flange portion 30 of the accessory ring is an outwardly flaring depending skirt portion 32 to which is secured, by fastener means such as rivets 34, a plurality of hooks 36. In the embodiment illustrated for decora tive purposes I have shown these hooks secured to the ring with the shank of the hook internally of the skirt portion and with the hook portion extending outwardly of the accessory ring. It is, of course, obvious, however, that these hooks may be secured to the accessory ring in any conventional manner. The hooks 36 are of such size as to conveniently removably secure to the ring such accessories 'as a crevice cleaner attachment 38 or a brush 40. Also secured to the accessory ring in any conventional manner is a ring 42 which may be used to retain the ring on a hook or nail when the ring containing the accessories is removed from the cleaner for storage in a closet or the like as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

In use, the cleaner ring 28 is placed over the chamber wall 10 and slid down the periphery of the wall 10. The flange 30 of the ring rests upon and is supported by the projection 24. In this position because of the substantial identity of diameters between the inside of the flange 30 and the outside of chamber wall 19, the ring will be held firmly in place. The accessories may then be placed in position on the hooks 36 and the ring and accessories then become a part of the cleaner construction and will be moved with the cleaner from place to place with the accessories readily convenient for both vacuum and blower cleaning operations. Each of the accessories may be removed for use as desired and when the particular job for which the accessory is used is completed, it may easily be replaced in hooked position on the ring. When the cleaner is to be used solely for 'a rug cleaning operation and it is determined that the accessories will not be needed, the accessory ring together with the accessories hooked thereto may be removed and hung in a closet by means of the ring 42.

It will be noted that this accessory ring is so constructed that it gives a pleasing and streamlined appearance to the cleaner and when in place on the cleaner, functions to cover the connection between the upper and lower chambers.

It is, of course, obvious that my invention is capable of various modifications and I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth but wish to avail myself of all modifications which may come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A vacuum cleaner of the canister type comprising a lower generally cylindrical shell and an upper shell, the latter shell also being generally cylindrical and being tapered inwardly from bottom to top with its bottom diameter smaller than the upper diameter of the lower shell, an annular ledge at the juncture of the two shells,

Patented Jan. '29 1957" greater than the bottom diameter of the upper shell, but

less than the upper diameter of the lower shell, removably supported on said annular ledge and masking said juncture, said ring comprising an inwardly extending flange portion adapted to rest upon said annular ledge and an outer downwardly extending rim portion of substantially uniform depth, and a plurality of accessory receiving hooks mounted on said rim portion, said ring being capable of supporting accessories while the cleaner is in use and also being removable from the cleaner for hanging in vertical position on a wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,906 Newcomer Apr. 12, 1870 Voege May 19, 1896 Bunnell June 16, 1908 Darling Jan. 9, 1923 Kitto Feb. 1, 1944 Hamal'a Dec. 12, 1950 Wahlstrom Apr. 17, 1951 Liesener Apr. 1, 1952 MacFarland July 22, 1952 Fadner Aug. 25, 1953 Gorham July 26, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 15, 1910 France Sept. 10, 1934 France Mar. 27, 194 

